hotline: Carolina Rare Bird Alert date: January 10, 2003 number: 704-332-2473 to report: 704-332-2473 or 704-532-6336 or PiephoffT@aol.com coverage: North and South Carolina statewide compiler: Taylor Piephoff for the Carolina Bird Club
Hello, this is a January 10 update of the Carolina Rare Bird alert featuring birding news from North and South Carolina sponsored by the Carolina Bird Club. Highlights on this report include:
CAVE SWALLOWS WESTERN TANAGERS SANDHILL CRANES SHORT-EARED OWLS WESTERN KINGBIRDS BLACK-HEADED GULL
Up to two CAVE SWALLOWS were still being seen as of 1-4 at the municipal pond on the west side of US 421 in Carolina Beach, NC. Check through the tree swallows there. A single CAVE SWALLOW was seen on the Savannah area CBC in SC on 1-4. Look for this bird on the north side of Hwy. 170 through the Savannah NWR.
Two WESTERN TANAGERS are being seen in ayard in Morehead City, NC. Contact John Fussell at <jfuss@clis.com>.
At Lake Mattamuskeet in NC, look for a BLACK-HEADED GULL on the causeway at the northern-most water crossing. Also, a WESTERN KINGBIRD was on the causeway on 1-7.
At Alligator River NWR in NC, look for up to 4 SHORT-EARED OWLS and a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK in the farm fields. Best bet is to scan from Long Curve Rd. or Grouse Rd. at dawn or dusk. You must leave the refuge after dark.
A female DICKCISSEL is coming in every day to a feeder at Outer Banks Birdwatchers in Nags Head, NC.
SANDHILL CRANES were reported twice from SC. Seventeen birds were at Santee NWR on 1-6. Fourteen cranes were seen at the Santee Coastal Reserve on 12-26.
A WESTERN KINGBIRD was present at Bull Island, SC on 1-5. the bird was at the intersection of Sheep Head Rd. and the trail to Moccasin Pond. Six BRANT were fly-bys on the same date.
Thanks this week to Nathan Dias, John Fussell, David Weathers, Stephen Thomas, Jeff Lewis, Marvin Bouknight. Some of this information was gleaned from Carolinabirds.
Taylor Piephoff Charlotte, NC PiephoffT@aol.com